Suzy Fonseca

Asusena “Suzy” Fonseca serves as Washington Region President for Self-Help Federal Credit Union, where she oversees retail operations, community engagement, and inclusive lending strategy across rural and agricultural communities throughout the state. 

With more than 27 years of experience in community development finance, Asusena began her career as a teller at Lower Valley Credit Union (LVCU) in 1999 and later served as its President and CEO. Under her leadership, LVCU more than tripled its membership, increased its loan portfolio by $74 million, and tripled total assets from $50 million to $150 million. During her tenure, the credit union secured Low-Income Designation and became a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and Minority Depository Institution (MDI), receiving multiple Financial Assistance Awards from the U.S. Treasury’s CDFI Fund to expand access to responsible lending, financial education, and citizenship development programming for immigrant and Spanish-speaking members. 

An early innovator in the design and implementation of citizenship programming within financial institutions, Asusena led initiatives that supported thousands of lawful permanent residents on their pathway to U.S. citizenship while simultaneously building access to safe, affordable financial products. In recognition of her leadership and the credit union’s inclusive lending practices, Asusena received the Credit Union Hero Achievement Award from CUNA and CU Magazine in 2016. That same year, LVCU was awarded the Wells Fargo NEXT Seed Capital Award to expand financial services access through the deployment of Interactive Teller Machines (ITMs) in rural agricultural communities and received the Credit Union Excellence in Lending Award from CUNA for advancing inclusion-focused lending practices. 

In her current role with Self-Help Federal Credit Union, Asusena works to expand access to safe and affordable financial services for individuals and families who may face barriers to traditional banking systems. A core component of her work involves identifying and cultivating strategic partnerships with community-based organizations, higher education institutions, and mission-aligned stakeholders to expand the availability of financial resources within underserved local markets. 

As a first-generation Latina professional with strong ties to agricultural communities, Asusena brings both lived experience and institutional leadership to her work. Through these partnerships, she supports the alignment and deployment of mission-supportive deposits to advance place-based investment strategies, including the financing of affordable housing projects and other community development initiatives that promote long-term economic stability in historically underserved communities. 

She has served on Inclusiv’s Juntos Avanzamos Selection Committee since 2016, is a Trustee for Astria Hospital since 2010, and is a Board Member for Nuestra Casa. She is also a member and past President of the Sunnyside Rotary Club. 

Asusena holds degrees in Finance and Operational Management from Washington State University, and is a graduate of Western CUNA Management School.